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Schulze KJ, Robinson M, MacKenzie HM, Dickey JP. Association of Preexisting Mental Health Conditions With Increased Initial Symptom Count and Severity Score on SCAT5 When Assessing Concussion. Orthop J Sports Med 2022; 10:23259671221123581. [PMID: 36157090 PMCID: PMC9490471 DOI: 10.1177/23259671221123581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety, and learning disabilities, are associated with symptoms that can overlap with those seen in persons with concussion. While concussion screening tools such as the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool–5th Edition (SCAT5) quantify the number of symptoms and symptom severity, it is not known whether these outcomes differ among individuals with concurrent mental health conditions compared with those without them. Purpose: To determine whether, during initial concussion assessment, individuals with a self-reported mental health condition have a significantly different number of self-reported concussion symptoms or symptom severity compared with those without a self-reported mental health condition (controls). Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed on consecutive patients aged ≥13 years who underwent post-concussion assessment at the Fowler Kennedy Sport Medicine Clinic between May 2018 and March 2020 (N = 765). Most participants did not self-report a mental health condition (n = 606; 79.2%). Participants with a self-reported mental health condition (n = 159) were classified as having a learning disability (n = 14; 8.8%), anxiety (n = 62; 39.0%), depression (n = 20; 12.6%), or multiple conditions (≥2 conditions: n = 63; 39.6%). Each participant with a mental health condition was matched with 2 control participants (overall pool, n = 318) based on age, sex, student status, and sport-related risk. Mann-Whitney U tests were used to determine the statistical significance of differences between each subgroup and their matched controls for the self-reported number of concussion symptoms and symptom severity as measured using the SCAT5. Results: The anxiety and multiple-conditions subgroups had a significantly greater number of reported symptoms than their corresponding control subgroups (median, 17 vs 15 [P = .004] and 18 vs 14.5 [P < .001], respectively). Additionally, the SCAT5 symptom severity score was significantly greater in the anxiety and multiple-conditions subgroups than their corresponding controls (median, 49 vs 34.5 [P = .018] and 62 vs 32 [P < .001], respectively). Conclusion: During initial concussion assessment, both the number of concussion-related symptoms and the symptom severity were greater in study participants with anxiety and multiple mental health conditions than participants without these conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Michael Robinson
- Faculty of Health Science, Lawson Health Research Institute, Fowler Kennedy Sport Medicine Clinic, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Heather M MacKenzie
- Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.,Parkwood Institute, St. Joseph's Health Care London, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - James P Dickey
- School of Kinesiology, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
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2
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Long-term effects of concussion on relevancy-based modulation of somatosensory-evoked potentials. Clin Neurophysiol 2021; 132:2431-2439. [PMID: 34454270 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2021.06.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Revised: 05/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The purpose of this investigation was to better understand the effects of concussions on the ability to selectively up or down-regulate incoming somatosensory information based on relevance. METHODS Median nerve somatosensory-evoked potentials (SEPs) were elicited from electrical stimulation and recorded from scalp electrodes while participants completed tasks that altered the relevance of specific somatosensory information being conveyed along the stimulated nerve. RESULTS Within the control group, SEP amplitudes for task-relevant somatosensory information were significantly greater than for non-relevant somatosensory information at the earliest cortical processing potentials (N20-P27). Alternatively, the concussion history group showed similar SEP amplitudes for all conditions at early processing potentials, however a pattern similar to controls emerged later in the processing stream (P100) where both movement-related gating and facilitation of task-relevant information were present. CONCLUSIONS Previously concussed participants demonstrated impairments in the ability to up-regulate relevant somatosensory information at early processing stages. These effects appear to be chronic, as this pattern was observed on average several years after participants' most recent concussion. SIGNIFICANCE Given the role of the prefrontal cortex in relevancy-based facilitation during movement-related gating, these findings lend support to the notion that this brain area may be particularly vulnerable to concussive forces.
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Clayton G, Davis N, Holliday A, Joffe D, Oakley DS, Palermo FX, Poddar S, Rueda M. In-clinic event related potentials after sports concussion: A 4-year study. J Pediatr Rehabil Med 2020; 13:81-92. [PMID: 32176669 PMCID: PMC7242851 DOI: 10.3233/prm-190620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Electrophysiological event-related potentials (ERP's) have been reported to change after concussion. The objective of this study is to use a simple 2-tone auditory P300 ERP in routine clinical settings to measure changes from baseline after concussion and to determine if these changes persist at return to play when other standard measures have normalized. METHODS Three-hundred sixty-four (364) student athletes, aged 17-23 years, participating in contact sports were tracked over consecutive years. In this blinded study P300, plus physical reaction times and Trail Making tests, were collected alongside standard clinical evaluations. Changes in these measures after concussion were compared to clinical outcomes over various stages of post-injury recovery. RESULTS Concussed players experienced significant reaction time and/or P300 amplitude changes compared to pre-concussion baseline measurements (p< 0.005). P300 changes persisted in 38% of the players after standard measures, including reaction times, had cleared. Many of those players slow to normalize were part of the sub-concussive symptom group and/or appeared more prone to repeat concussions. CONCLUSION These data suggest significant P300 amplitude changes after concussion that are quantifiable and consistent. These changes often normalized slower than other standard assessments. More data are needed to determine if slow normalization relates to sub-concussive or repeated events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerald Clayton
- School of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA.,Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Natalie Davis
- Department of Athletics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Adam Holliday
- Department of Athletics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
| | | | | | | | - Sourav Poddar
- School of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Miguel Rueda
- Department of Athletics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
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Boshra R, Ruiter KI, DeMatteo C, Reilly JP, Connolly JF. Neurophysiological Correlates of Concussion: Deep Learning for Clinical Assessment. Sci Rep 2019; 9:17341. [PMID: 31758044 PMCID: PMC6874583 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-53751-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2019] [Accepted: 11/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Concussion has been shown to leave the afflicted with significant cognitive and neurobehavioural deficits. The persistence of these deficits and their link to neurophysiological indices of cognition, as measured by event-related potentials (ERP) using electroencephalography (EEG), remains restricted to population level analyses that limit their utility in the clinical setting. In the present paper, a convolutional neural network is extended to capitalize on characteristics specific to EEG/ERP data in order to assess for post-concussive effects. An aggregated measure of single-trial performance was able to classify accurately (85%) between 26 acutely to post-acutely concussed participants and 28 healthy controls in a stratified 10-fold cross-validation design. Additionally, the model was evaluated in a longitudinal subsample of the concussed group to indicate a dissociation between the progression of EEG/ERP and that of self-reported inventories. Concordant with a number of previous studies, symptomatology was found to be uncorrelated to EEG/ERP results as assessed with the proposed models. Our results form a first-step towards the clinical integration of neurophysiological results in concussion management and motivate a multi-site validation study for a concussion assessment tool in acute and post-acute cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rober Boshra
- ARiEAL Research Centre, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada.
- School of Biomedical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada.
- Vector Institute, MaRS Centre, Toronto, Canada.
| | - Kyle I Ruiter
- ARiEAL Research Centre, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
- Linguistics and Languages, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
| | - Carol DeMatteo
- School of Rehabilitation Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
| | - James P Reilly
- ARiEAL Research Centre, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
- School of Biomedical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
- Vector Institute, MaRS Centre, Toronto, Canada
- Electrical and Computer Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
| | - John F Connolly
- ARiEAL Research Centre, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada.
- School of Biomedical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada.
- Vector Institute, MaRS Centre, Toronto, Canada.
- Linguistics and Languages, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada.
- Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada.
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5
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King R, Grohs MN, Kirton A, Lebel C, Esser MJ, Barlow KM. Microstructural neuroimaging of white matter tracts in persistent post-concussion syndrome: A prospective controlled cohort study. Neuroimage Clin 2019; 23:101842. [PMID: 31108457 PMCID: PMC6526293 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2019.101842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2018] [Revised: 04/08/2019] [Accepted: 04/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Children with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) typically recover quickly, however approximately 15% experience persistent post-concussive symptoms (PPCS) past 3 months. The microstructural pathology associated with underlying persistent symptoms is poorly understood but is suggested to involve axonal injury to white matter tracts. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) can be used to visualize and characterize damage to white matter microstructure of the brain. OBJECTIVE We aimed to investigate white matter microstructure in children with persistent concussive symptoms as compared to typically developing controls, alongside evaluating differences in white matter changes over time and how this relates to symptom recovery. METHODS The current study is a prospective, longitudinal, controlled cohort study of children with mTBI. 104 children aged 8 to 18 years with a mTBI (72 symptomatic; 32 asymptomatic) were recruited from the Alberta Children's Hospital and compared to 20 healthy controls. Microstructural evidence of white matter injury was evaluated using DTI one month post injury and repeated 4 to 6 weeks later. Primary outcomes included fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity of the corticospinal tracts, uncinate fasciculi, and motor fibers of the corpus callosum. Post-concussive symptoms were also measured using the Post-Concussion Symptom Inventory (PCSI) taken at both time points. RESULTS Fractional anisotropy of the left uncinate fasciculi was lower in symptomatic children compared to controls (F(2,119) = 3.582, p = 0.031). No other significant differences were observed. CONCLUSIONS Our findings provide evidence of microstructural injury following mTBI in children with ongoing post-concussive symptoms one month post injury. The changes were persistent 4-6 weeks later. Further longitudinal studies of white matter microstructure in PPCS will be helpful to clarify whether these white matter alterations resolve over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Regan King
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Canada; Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Canada
| | - Melody N Grohs
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Canada; Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Canada
| | - Adam Kirton
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Canada; Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Canada; Department of Pediatrics, Canada; Cummings School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Canada
| | - Catherine Lebel
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Canada; Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Canada; Department of Pediatrics, Canada
| | - Michael J Esser
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Canada; Department of Pediatrics, Canada; Cummings School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Canada
| | - Karen M Barlow
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Canada; Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Canada; Department of Pediatrics, Canada; Cummings School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Canada.
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Effects of Repeated Concussions and Sex on Early Processing of Emotional Facial Expressions as Revealed by Electrophysiology. J Int Neuropsychol Soc 2018; 24:673-683. [PMID: 29729683 DOI: 10.1017/s1355617718000231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Concussions affect the processing of emotional stimuli. This study aimed to investigate how sex interacts with concussion effects on early event-related brain potentials (ERP) measures (P1, N1) of emotional facial expressions (EFE) processing in asymptomatic, multi-concussion athletes during an EFE identification task. METHODS Forty control athletes (20 females and 20 males) and 43 multi-concussed athletes (22 females and 21 males), recruited more than 3 months after their last concussion, were tested. Participants completed the Beck Depression Inventory II, the Beck Anxiety Inventory, the Post-Concussion Symptom Scale, and an Emotional Facial Expression Identification Task. Pictures of male and female faces expressing neutral, angry, and happy emotions were randomly presented and the emotion depicted had to be identified as fast as possible during EEG acquisition. RESULTS Relative to controls, concussed athletes of both sex exhibited a significant suppression of P1 amplitude recorded from the dominant right hemisphere while performing the emotional face expression identification task. The present study also highlighted a sex-specific suppression of the N1 component amplitude after concussion which affected male athletes. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that repeated concussions alter the typical pattern of right-hemisphere response dominance to EFE in early stages of EFE processing and that the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying the processing of emotional stimuli are distinctively affected across sex. (JINS, 2018, 24, 673-683).
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Lancaster MA, Meier TB, Olson DV, McCrea MA, Nelson LD, Muftuler LT. Chronic differences in white matter integrity following sport-related concussion as measured by diffusion MRI: 6-Month follow-up. Hum Brain Mapp 2018; 39:4276-4289. [PMID: 29964356 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.24245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2017] [Revised: 04/19/2018] [Accepted: 05/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent studies demonstrated evidence of physiological changes in the brain following sport-related concussion (SRC) that persisted beyond the point at which athletes achieved full symptom recovery. Diffusion MRI techniques have been used to study brain white matter (WM) changes following SRC; however, longitudinal studies that follow injured athletes from the acute to chronic stages of injury are sparse. The current study explores potential persisting effects of the injury, which serves as a follow-up to our previous work that reported WM changes in the acute and subacute phase of SRC recovery. Concussed high school and collegiate football players (n = 17) and well-matched teammate controls (n = 20) were followed up at 6 months postinjury with diffusion tensor (DTI) and diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) as well as measures of self-reported symptoms, cognitive functioning, and balance. Results of tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) analyses revealed continued widespread decreased mean and axial diffusivity compared to control subjects in 6-month follow-up scans. On the other hand, kurtosis metrics, which were significantly higher in concussed athletes in the acute phase, had normalized. WM tract regions-of-interest (ROIs) were created from significant clusters in the TBSS analysis, and linear mixed effects (LME) analyses were used to look at longitudinal changes in these ROIs over time. LME analyses revealed few time × group interactions indicating findings were relatively stable over time. In addition, acute concussion symptoms predicted diffusivity measures at 6 months postinjury. Findings indicate that DTI and DKI may be useful tools in assessing concussion severity, recovery, and possible long-term effects of concussion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa A Lancaster
- Department of Neurology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
| | - Timothy B Meier
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
| | - Daniel V Olson
- Department of Biophysics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
| | - Michael A McCrea
- Department of Neurology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
| | - Lindsay D Nelson
- Department of Neurology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
| | - L Tugan Muftuler
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Center for Imaging Research Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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8
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Lancaster MA, Olson DV, McCrea MA, Nelson LD, LaRoche AA, Muftuler LT. Acute white matter changes following sport-related concussion: A serial diffusion tensor and diffusion kurtosis tensor imaging study. Hum Brain Mapp 2018; 37:3821-3834. [PMID: 27237455 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.23278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2016] [Revised: 05/05/2016] [Accepted: 05/23/2016] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent neuroimaging studies have suggested that following sport-related concussion (SRC) physiological brain alterations may persist after an athlete has shown full symptom recovery. Diffusion MRI is a versatile technique to study white matter injury following SRC, yet serial follow-up studies in the very acute stages following SRC utilizing a comprehensive set of diffusion metrics are lacking. The aim of the current study was to characterize white matter changes within 24 hours of concussion in a group of high school and collegiate athletes, using Diffusion Tensor and Diffusion Kurtosis Tensor metrics. Participants were reassessed a week later. At 24 hours post-injury, the concussed group reported significantly more concussion symptoms than a well-matched control group and demonstrated poorer performance on a cognitive screening measure, yet these differences were nonsignificant at the 8-day follow-up. Similarly, within 24-hours after injury, the concussed group exhibited a widespread decrease in mean diffusivity, increased axial kurtosis and, to a lesser extent, decreased axial and radial diffusivities compared with control subjects. At 8 days post injury, the differences in these diffusion metrics were even more widespread in the injured athletes, despite improvement of symptoms and cognitive performance. These MRI findings suggest that the athletes might not have reached full physiological recovery a week after the injury. These findings have significant implications for the management of SRC because allowing an athlete to return to play before the brain has fully recovered from injury may have negative consequences. Hum Brain Mapp 37:3821-3834, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa A Lancaster
- Department of Neurology, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53226.,Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53226
| | - Daniel V Olson
- Department of Biophysics, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53226
| | - Michael A McCrea
- Department of Neurology, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53226.,Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53226
| | - Lindsay D Nelson
- Department of Neurology, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53226.,Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53226
| | - Ashley A LaRoche
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53226
| | - L Tugan Muftuler
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53226.
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Di Battista AP, Rhind SG, Richards D, Churchill N, Baker AJ, Hutchison MG. Altered Blood Biomarker Profiles in Athletes with a History of Repetitive Head Impacts. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0159929. [PMID: 27458972 PMCID: PMC4961456 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0159929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2016] [Accepted: 07/11/2016] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The long-term health effects of concussion and sub-concussive impacts in sport are unknown. Growing evidence suggests both inflammation and neurodegeneration are pivotal to secondary injury processes and the etiology of neurodegenerative diseases. In the present study we characterized circulating brain injury and inflammatory mediators in healthy male and female athletes according to concussion history and collision sport participation. Eighty-seven university level athletes (male, n = 60; female, n = 27) were recruited before the start of the competitive season. Athletes were healthy at the time of the study (no medications, illness, concussion or musculoskeletal injuries). Dependent variables included 29 inflammatory and 10 neurological injury analytes assessed in the peripheral blood by immunoassay. Biomarkers were statistically evaluated using partial least squares multivariate analysis to identify possible relationships to self-reported previous concussion history, number of previous concussions and collision sport participation in male and female athletes. Multiple concussions were associated with increases in peripheral MCP-1 in females, and MCP-4 in males. Collision sport participation was associated with increases in tau levels in males. These results are consistent with previous experimental and clinical findings that suggest ongoing inflammatory and cerebral injury processes after repetitive mild head trauma. However, further validation is needed to correlate systemic biomarkers to repetitive brain impacts, as opposed to the extracranial effects common to an athletic population such as exercise and muscle damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex P. Di Battista
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto ON, Canada
- Defence Research and Development Canada, Toronto Research Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Shawn G. Rhind
- Defence Research and Development Canada, Toronto Research Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education, University of Toronto, Toronto ON, Canada
| | - Doug Richards
- Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education, University of Toronto, Toronto ON, Canada
| | - Nathan Churchill
- Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science of St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Andrew J. Baker
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto ON, Canada
- Departments of Critical Care, Anesthesia and Surgery, St. Michael’s Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto ON, Canada
- Keenan Research Centre, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Michael G. Hutchison
- Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education, University of Toronto, Toronto ON, Canada
- Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science of St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
- * E-mail:
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Eckner JT, Rettmann A, Narisetty N, Greer J, Moore B, Brimacombe S, He X, Broglio SP. Stability of an ERP-based measure of brain network activation (BNA) in athletes: A new electrophysiological assessment tool for concussion. Brain Inj 2016; 30:1075-81. [PMID: 27245767 PMCID: PMC4988883 DOI: 10.3109/02699052.2016.1160152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
PRIMARY OBJECTIVE To determine test-re-test reliabilities of novel Evoked Response Potential (ERP)-based Brain Network Activation (BNA) scores in healthy athletes. RESEARCH DESIGN Observational, repeated-measures study. METHODS AND DESIGN Forty-two healthy male and female high school and collegiate athletes completed auditory oddball and go/no-go ERP assessments at baseline, 1 week, 6 weeks and 1 year. The BNA algorithm was applied to the ERP data, considering electrode location, frequency band, peak latency and normalized amplitude to generate seven unique BNA scores for each testing session. MAIN OUTCOMES AND RESULTS Mean BNA scores, intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) values and reliable change (RC) values were calculated for each of the seven BNA networks. BNA scores ranged from 46.3 ± 34.9 to 69.9 ± 22.8, ICC values ranged from 0.46-0.65 and 95% RC values ranged from 38.3-68.1 across the seven networks. CONCLUSIONS The wide range of BNA scores observed in this population of healthy athletes suggests that a single BNA score or set of BNA scores from a single after-injury test session may be difficult to interpret in isolation without knowledge of the athlete's own baseline BNA score(s) and/or the results of serial tests performed at additional time points. The stability of each BNA network should be considered when interpreting test-re-test BNA score changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- James T. Eckner
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor MI
- Michigan NeuroSport, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor MI
| | - Ashley Rettmann
- Michigan NeuroSport, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor MI
- School of Kinesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor MI
- NeuroTrauma Research Laboratory, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor MI
| | | | - Jacob Greer
- Michigan NeuroSport, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor MI
| | - Brandon Moore
- Michigan NeuroSport, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor MI
| | | | - Xuming He
- Department of Statistics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor MI
| | - Steven P. Broglio
- Michigan NeuroSport, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor MI
- School of Kinesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor MI
- NeuroTrauma Research Laboratory, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor MI
- University of Michigan Injury Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor MI
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Abstract
Postconcussion syndrome is a symptom complex with a wide range of somatic, cognitive, sleep, and affective features, and is the most common consequence of traumatic brain injury. Between 14% and 29% of children with mild traumatic brain injury will continue to have postconcussion symptoms at 3 months, but the pathophysiological mechanisms driving this is poorly understood. The relative contribution of injury factors to postconcussion syndrome decreases over time and, instead, premorbid factors become important predictors of symptom persistence by 3 to 6 months postinjury. The differential diagnoses include headache disorder, cervical injury, anxiety, depression, somatization, vestibular dysfunction, and visual dysfunction. The long-term outcome for most children is good, although there is significant morbidity in the short term. Management strategies target problematic symptoms such as headaches, sleep and mood disturbances, and cognitive complaints.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen M Barlow
- Department of Pediatrics and Clinical Neurosciences, Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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13
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Barlow KM, Brooks BL, MacMaster FP, Kirton A, Seeger T, Esser M, Crawford S, Nettel-Aguirre A, Zemek R, Angelo M, Kirk V, Emery CA, Johnson D, Hill MD, Buchhalter J, Turley B, Richer L, Platt R, Hutchison J, Dewey D. A double-blind, placebo-controlled intervention trial of 3 and 10 mg sublingual melatonin for post-concussion syndrome in youths (PLAYGAME): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials 2014; 15:271. [PMID: 25001947 PMCID: PMC4227124 DOI: 10.1186/1745-6215-15-271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2014] [Accepted: 06/17/2014] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background By the age of sixteen, one in five children will sustain a mild traumatic brain injury also known as concussion. Our research found that one in seven school children with mild traumatic brain injury suffer post-concussion syndrome symptoms for three months or longer. Post-concussion syndrome is associated with significant disability in the child and his/her family and yet there are no evidence-based medical treatments available. Melatonin has several potential mechanisms of action that could be useful following mild traumatic brain injury, including neuroprotective effects. The aim of this study is to determine if treatment with melatonin improves post-concussion syndrome in youths following mild traumatic brain injury. Our hypothesis is that treatment of post-concussion syndrome following mild traumatic brain injury with 3 or 10 mg of sublingual melatonin for 28 days will result in a decrease in post-concussion syndrome symptoms compared with placebo. Methods/Design Ninety-nine youths with mild traumatic brain injury, aged between 13 and 18 years, who are symptomatic at 30 days post-injury will be recruited. This study will be conducted as a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled superiority trial of melatonin. Three parallel treatment groups will be examined with a 1:1:1 allocation: sublingual melatonin 3 mg, sublingual melatonin 10 mg, and sublingual placebo. Participants will receive treatment for 28 days. The primary outcome is a change on the Post-Concussion Symptom Inventory (Parent and Youth). The secondary outcomes will include neurobehavioral function, health-related quality of life and sleep. Neurophysiological and structural markers of change, using magnetic resonance imaging techniques and transcranial magnetic stimulation, will also be investigated. Discussion Melatonin is a safe and well-tolerated agent that has many biological properties that may be useful following a traumatic brain injury. This study will determine whether it is a useful treatment for children with post-concussion syndrome. Recruitment commenced on 4 December 2014. Trial registration This trial was registered on 6 June 2013 at ClinicalTrials.gov. Registration number: NCT01874847.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen M Barlow
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Room 293, Heritage Medical Research Building 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada.
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Dimou S, Lagopoulos J. Toward objective markers of concussion in sport: a review of white matter and neurometabolic changes in the brain after sports-related concussion. J Neurotrauma 2014; 31:413-24. [PMID: 24266534 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2013.3050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Abstract Sports-related concussion is an issue that has piqued the public's attention of late as concerns surrounding potential long-term sequelae as well as new methods of characterizing the effects of this form of injury continue to develop. For the most part, diagnosis of concussion is based on subjective clinical measures and thus is prone to under-reporting. In the current environment, where conventional imaging modalities, such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, are unable to elucidate the degree of white matter damage and neurometabolic change, a discussion of two advanced imaging techniques-diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS)-is undertaken with a view to highlighting their potential utility. Our aim is to outline a variety of the approaches to concussion research that have been employed, with special attention given to the clinical considerations and acute complications attributed to concussive injury. DTI and MRS have been at the forefront of research as a result of their noninvasiveness and ease of acquisition, and hence it is thought that the use of these neuroimaging modalities has the potential to aid clinical decision making and management, including guiding return-to-play protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Dimou
- 1 Brain and Mind Research Institute, The University of Sydney , Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
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Gosselin N, Bottari C, Chen JK, Huntgeburth SC, De Beaumont L, Petrides M, Cheung B, Ptito A. Evaluating the cognitive consequences of mild traumatic brain injury and concussion by using electrophysiology. Neurosurg Focus 2013. [PMID: 23199430 DOI: 10.3171/2012.10.focus12253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
OBJECT Mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI), often referred to as concussion when it occurs in sports, produces persistent cognitive problems in at least 15% of patients. Unfortunately, conventional neuropsychological tests usually yield results within normal limits in this population. The main objective of this event-related potential (ERP) study was to understand brain functioning during the performance of a working memory (WM) task in patients who have sustained an MTBI, mostly due to motor vehicle accident or sports concussion. This study also aimed for a better understanding of the association between brain functioning as measured with ERP, behavioral performance on the WM task, postconcussion symptoms, type of injury (that is, sports concussion vs other types), and time since the injury. METHODS Forty-four patients with MTBI (7.6 ± 8.4 months postinjury) were tested on a visual WM task with simultaneous recording of ERP, and were compared with 40 control volunteers who were their equivalent for age and sex. Amplitude and latency of frontal (N200 and N350) and parietal (P200 and P300) ERP waves were measured and were compared between groups. Correlation analyses were also performed between ERP characteristics, clinical variables, and behavioral performance. RESULTS A significant group difference was found for behavioral performance on the WM task, in which the MTBI group had a lower percentage of correct answers than the control group (p < 0.05). The patients with MTBI also had smaller amplitudes of both frontal N350 and parietal P300 ERP components when compared with control volunteers (p < 0.05). No changes were found for latency of ERP components. Smaller ERP amplitudes were associated with slower reaction times and worse accuracy on the WM task among patients with MTBI (p < 0.05). Types of injury (that is, sports concussion vs other mechanisms) were not associated with different ERP characteristics. CONCLUSIONS Abnormal ERP results are observed in patients after MTBI or sports concussion, even for those in the nonacute stage after their injury. Current standard clinical evaluations most often fail to detect cerebral dysfunction after MTBI, even when patients or athletes report symptoms. Clinicians should be aware that patients with MTBI, including sports concussion, probably have underlying mild but persistent cerebral dysfunctions that require further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia Gosselin
- Research Center, Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal, Canada
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16
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Patterson ZR, Holahan MR. Understanding the neuroinflammatory response following concussion to develop treatment strategies. Front Cell Neurosci 2012; 6:58. [PMID: 23248582 PMCID: PMC3520152 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2012.00058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2012] [Accepted: 11/27/2012] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI) have been associated with long-term cognitive deficits relating to trauma-induced neurodegeneration. These long-term deficits include impaired memory and attention, changes in executive function, emotional instability, and sensorimotor deficits. Furthermore, individuals with concussions show a high co-morbidity with a host of psychiatric illnesses (e.g., depression, anxiety, addiction) and dementia. The neurological damage seen in mTBI patients is the result of the impact forces and mechanical injury, followed by a delayed neuroimmune response that can last hours, days, and even months after the injury. As part of the neuroimmune response, a cascade of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines are released and can be detected at the site of injury as well as subcortical, and often contralateral, regions. It has been suggested that the delayed neuroinflammatory response to concussions is more damaging then the initial impact itself. However, evidence exists for favorable consequences of cytokine production following traumatic brain injuries as well. In some cases, treatments that reduce the inflammatory response will also hinder the brain's intrinsic repair mechanisms. At present, there is no evidence-based pharmacological treatment for concussions in humans. The ability to treat concussions with drug therapy requires an in-depth understanding of the pathophysiological and neuroinflammatory changes that accompany concussive injuries. The use of neurotrophic factors [e.g., nerve growth factor (NGF)] and anti-inflammatory agents as an adjunct for the management of post-concussion symptomology will be explored in this review.
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Gosselin N, Chen JK, Bottari C, Petrides M, Jubault T, Tinawi S, de Guise E, Ptito A. The influence of pain on cerebral functioning after mild traumatic brain injury. J Neurotrauma 2012; 29:2625-34. [PMID: 23016544 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2012.2312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
More than 75% of patients with mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) report chronic pain whose potential detrimental effects on cognitive recovery need to be identified. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between pain, performance on a working memory task, gray matter density, and mid-dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (mid-DLPFC) activation in subjects with a MTBI. For comparison purposes, we performed identical correlation analyses with a group of subjects without MTBI who sustained sports injuries. Twenty-four subjects who experienced a MTBI in the past 12 months, 16 control subjects, and 29 subjects with sport injuries were included. One hour prior to entering the magnetic resonance scanner, the subjects were asked to fill out the pain Visual Analogue Scale. Subsequently, a high-resolution T1-weighted image was acquired followed by a functional magnetic resonance imaging session using the visual externally ordered working memory task. Results showed that MTBI subjects reporting severe pain in the hour preceding the testing had reduced mid-DLPFC activation during the working memory task and poorer performance on the task. Subjects with sport injuries and severe levels of pain showed the reverse pattern: pain was associated with higher activation in the mid-DLPFC and did not correlate with performance. Gray matter density measures were independent of pain level. This study showed that behavioral performance and cerebral functioning are affected by pain after a MTBI. Moreover, this study suggests that pain, cognition, and cerebral functioning interactions could not easily be generalized from one clinical population to another.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia Gosselin
- Cognitive Neuroscience Unit, Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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18
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Abstract
Sports-related concussions are complex injuries with biomechanical and biochemical etiology that present with central and autonomic nervous system dysfunction. Current methods for assessing concussions and basing return-to-play decisions rely on symptom resolution, rating scales, and neuropsychological testing, all of which are indirect measures of injury severity and detect functional capabilities but do not directly measure injury location or severity. In addition, these downstream measures are susceptible to false negatives because compensatory mechanism, such as unmasking and redundancies in brain circuitry can return functional capabilities before injury resolution. The multifactorial nature of concussion necessitates rapid, inexpensive, and easily applied multimodal analysis methods that can offer greater sensitivity and specificity. This article discusses how new approaches utilizing electrophysiology (e.g., QEEG, ERP, ECG, HRV), quantified balance measures, and biochemistry are necessary to advance the science of concussion assessment, treatment, recovery projections, and return-to-play decisions. These additional assessment tools offer a more direct window into the severity and location of the injury, real-time measures of brain function, and the ability to measure the multiple body systems negatively affected by concussion.
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Maugans TA, Farley C, Altaye M, Leach J, Cecil KM. Pediatric sports-related concussion produces cerebral blood flow alterations. Pediatrics 2012; 129:28-37. [PMID: 22129537 PMCID: PMC3255471 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2011-2083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 257] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The pathophysiology of sports-related concussion (SRC) is incompletely understood. Human adult and experimental animal investigations have revealed structural axonal injuries, decreases in the neuronal metabolite N-acetyl aspartate, and reduced cerebral blood flow (CBF) after SRC and minor traumatic brain injury. The authors of this investigation explore these possibilities after pediatric SRC. PATIENTS AND METHODS Twelve children, ages 11 to 15 years, who experienced SRC were evaluated by ImPACT neurocognitive testing, T1 and susceptibility weighted MRI, diffusion tensor imaging, proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and phase contrast angiography at <72 hours, 14 days, and 30 days or greater after concussion. A similar number of age- and gender-matched controls were evaluated at a single time point. RESULTS ImPACT results confirmed statistically significant differences in initial total symptom score and reaction time between the SRC and control groups, resolving by 14 days for total symptom score and 30 days for reaction time. No evidence of structural injury was found on qualitative review of MRI. No decreases in neuronal metabolite N-acetyl aspartate or elevation of lactic acid were detected by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Statistically significant alterations in CBF were documented in the SRC group, with reduction in CBF predominating (38 vs 48 mL/100 g per minute; P = .027). Improvement toward control values occurred in only 27% of the participants at 14 days and 64% at >30 days after SRC. CONCLUSIONS Pediatric SRC is primarily a physiologic injury, affecting CBF significantly without evidence of measurable structural, metabolic neuronal or axonal injury. Further study of CBF mechanisms is needed to explain patterns of recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Todd A. Maugans
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio,Department of Neurosurgery, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Chad Farley
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Mekibib Altaye
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics,Department of Pediatrics
| | - James Leach
- Department of Pediatrics,,Radiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Kim M. Cecil
- Department of Pediatrics,,Radiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
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Khurana VG, Kaye AH. An overview of concussion in sport. J Clin Neurosci 2012; 19:1-11. [PMID: 22153800 DOI: 10.1016/j.jocn.2011.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2011] [Revised: 07/27/2011] [Accepted: 08/15/2011] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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